Ewing ponders future of police leadership

EWING – Mayor Bert Steinmann is open to the idea of civilian leadership for the township police force once Chief of Police Robert Coulton retires in February.

Critics of civilian leadership have long said it incorporates politics into police work, a troublesome mix. But, Steinmann last week said there are “positives” to switching and that he will consult with police officials and politicians on the both sides of the issue before deciding.

In New Jersey, local governments are allowed to appoint “police directors” or “public safety directors,” but as civilians they do not have the authority to carry guns or make arrests.

In a study of the differences prepared in 2007 by the lobby for New Jersey chiefs of police, civilian leadership of police forces is said to have had some benefit in cities in the state.

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The study goes on to note, however, that bringing in civilian leaders delivers a message to all officers on the force that “none of you are good enough to be entrusted with the ultimate command of the department to which you have devoted your professional life.”

Officers in Trenton know all about it. In 1999, Trenton’s chief of police was replaced as top cop by a civilian as the result of the referendum that came in the wake of the fatal police shooting of joyriding teen Jenny Hightower, 14.

Her friend Hubert Moore, then 16, had stolen the car and tried to run down the cops. He landed in prison, convicted for his role in her death.

A grand jury refused to indict any of the officers in the Hightower shooting, but voters overwhelmingly voted for a civilian director.

Coulton, 52, who has been Ewing chief for the past 14 years, said his township is unlikely to switch to civilian leadership, despite the mayor’s comments. As a former president of the New Jersey Chiefs of Police Association, Coulton said he “always been of the strong opinion that any department should be headed by a sworn police officer.”

Saying there are plenty of Ewing cops capable of replacing him, Coulton said he was sure Steinmann will see it that way by the time of his retirement on Feb. 1, after 30 years on the force.

Ewing, population 40,000, has 70 police officers, down from 87 a few years ago.